SOUTH CAROLINA

› Spring-game recap: Sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns April 1 to lead the Black over the Garnet 35-24 before an announced crowd of 12,345 at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game was moved up several hours due to South Carolina’s basketball program making its first Final Four appearance. Bentley completed 19 of 31 passes, including a 68-yard touchdown strike to Bryan Edwards on the second play, and was named the team’s offensive MVP for the spring. Defensive MVP honors went to end D.J. Wonnum, who had 32 tackles last season as a true freshman.

› Moving forward: Second-year coach Will Muschamp said this spring was “night and day” from a year ago, which could bode well for the Gamecocks, given that their eventual 6-6 regular season was among the more pleasant surprises in the league. Linebacker Skai Moore, who missed last season after undergoing neck surgery, is arguably the program’s best player and received an ovation at the spring game. The offense returns 10 starters and has added North Carolina transfer tailback Ty’son Williams, who had 11 rushes for 83 yards in the spring game, but don’t look for Muschamp to go overboard on optimism with a defense that could struggle to pressure the quarterback and could be mediocre in the secondary. The Gamecocks did, after all, end last season with a 56-7 loss to Clemson and a 46-39 loss in overtime to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.

› Opener: Sept. 2 against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.